Botswana is approximately 581,730km², and has vast areas (nearly17%) set aside for responsible wildlife utilisation. It is a semi-arid land with an average annual rainfall in the mid east as high as 450mm but as low as 230mm in the Kalahari Desert. The rainy or green season is from November to March.

CLIMATE
Temperatures vary a great deal. March and April are warm, whilst May, June and July are usually cold (5ºC) at night and mild to warm (23ºC) during the day. August and September are warmer, but windy. Daytime temperatures during the green season can get extremely hot, reaching temperatures of well over 40ºC.

HUNTING SEASON
The hunting season begins early in April and ends mid September each year.

CONCESSION AREAS
Hunters and Guides has access to large concession areas in both the Okavango Delta and Chobe areas in northern Botswana and has the use of privately owned hunting areas in the Kalahari as well as the Limpopo region of South-west Botswana (total over 1.2 million hectares).

Okavango Delta area
The diverse wildlife, (Buffalo, Lechwe, Sable, Crocodile, Hippo, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena, Tsessebe, the illusive Sitatunga and many more) and rich vegetation of this unique area makes it one of Africa's last true wilderness destinations and offers hunters endless challenges and opportunities.

PLEASE NOTE: It is expected that hunting will close in all Delta blocks by the end of hunting 2012.

Chobe area
This vast northern area, which takes its name from the great Chobe River, encompasses a wide variety of diverse habitats that are home to great numbers of game and the largest herds of elephant anywhere in Africa. The Chobe is an area of extreme contrasts with a variety of geological features and flora, which vary from the almost tropical habitat of the Linyanti Swamps to the severe, desert-like landscape of the Savuti. It also contrasts from the lush Chobe flood plain grasslands, to the deep sands of the Brachestegia woodland. This is big game country: Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Gemsbuck, Kudu, Eland can be found here…

Kalahari area
One of the world's most extensive mantles of sand is the home of the San bushman. The Okavango Delta flows into the Kalahari, and although it is spoken of as a desert, very little of it is.

Most is anchored by sufficient vegetation to attract wildlife that has long since adapted to survival without a permanent water supply in this semi-arid region. Antelope such as Leopard, Gemsbuck, Eland, Springbuck, Red Hartebeest, Steenbok, Kudu, Duiker and Warthog can manage without large quantities of water. Game seldom drinks from pans. It is the salts in the clay and the greater variety of vegetation that draws the animals to the pans.

Limpopo region
This is an extremely picturesque and diverse wilderness. It has river-hugging forests, savannah plains, open marshlands and boulder strewn rocky outcrops, punctured by bushveld vegetation. Species that can be hunted include Leopard, Crocodile, Wildebeest, Kudu, Zebra, Impala, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Eland and Giraffe. The area is also known for its prolific bird life.

Leopard may be hunted with dogs in this area under the "Problem Animal Control Act".

Camps
Accommodation in the government and community concession areas are provided in off-the-ground safari-style tents, each which can accommodate two people. Comfortable beds, tables, chairs, cupboards, linen and insect repellents are provided. En-suite ablutions offer hot/cold water showers and basins and flush toilets. Basic toiletries and towels are provided. The tents are serviced daily and a laundry service is provided.

Scrumptious meals and drinks are served around a campfire on a communal dining deck. In the Kalahari and Limpopo regions, clients are accommodated in similar tented camps or safari lodges.